Clitheroe

Steam trains still chuff through this proper Lancashire market town, bringing day-trippers to one of the Ribble Valley's most appealing spots. Clitheroe sits beneath the dramatic limestone outcrop of Pendle Hill, where witches once supposedly gathered and walkers now tackle the steady climb for views stretching to the Lake District on clear days.

The town centre feels refreshingly real. Independent shops line King Street and Castle Street, while the weekly market on Thursdays and Saturdays brings proper buzz to the cobbled market square. Clitheroe Castle, one of England's smallest Norman keeps, perches on a limestone knoll overlooking the town - though it's more dramatic from below than life-changing once you're up there.

What makes this area special is the countryside on your doorstep. Longridge Fell offers cracking walks without the Pennine crowds, while the network of ancient woodlands like Park Wood and Angerham Wood provides proper escape routes. Stonyhurst Museum, housed in the famous Catholic college, showcases everything from medieval manuscripts to scientific instruments - worth the short drive if you fancy something different.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The railway line from Manchester runs straight through town, while the A59 from Preston takes about 40 minutes by car. Accrington lies 15 miles east, but Clitheroe feels worlds away from industrial Lancashire.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the Ribble Valley makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed for Pendle Hill walks, the Forest of Bowland is on your doorstep, and you can explore the Yorkshire Dales without the tourist prices. Plus, after a day tramping the fells, nothing beats returning to your own space rather than hunting for accommodation in busy market towns.